Mailing viewer for slides and the like

ABSTRACT

The disclosed structure is a collapsible integral three-panel flat mailing slide viewer including a removable adapter for viewing film strips. The viewer may be formed for 2-D or 3-D slides.

United States Patent [1 1 Kiehl 3,800,452 Apr. 2, 1974 40/120 X 40/120 40/63 A X 40/63 A X 350/250 UX Filed? 197 Primary ExaminerR0bert W. Michell Appl. N0.: 307,107 Assistant Examiner-John F. Pitrelli Attorney, Agent, or FirmRogers, Ezell & Eilers [57] ABSTRACT The disclosed structure is a collapsible integral threepanel flat mailing slide viewer including a removable [52] US. Cl. 40/63 A, 350/140 [51] Int. G02g 27/22, G09f 11/30 [58] Field of Search 40/63 A, 64 A, 70 A, 86 A,

adapter for viewing film strips. The viewer may be formed for 2-D or 3-D slides.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,366 10/1952 Rothweiler................... 40/63 A UX 6 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures r!!! all,

PATENTEB 2 I974 SHEU 2 0F 2 BMW 4/ Ill 5 III],

/NVEN7OP-' PAUL G. K/EHL BY HTTO MAILING VIEWER FOR SLIDES AND THE LIKE This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 57,179 filed July 22, 1970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the photographic art, and more particularly to a novel collapsible three-panel flat mailing slide viewer including a removable adapter for viewing film strips. The viewer may be formed for 2-D or 3-D slides.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art contains many film viewers. However, there has long existed the need for an inexpensive, durable, flat mailable viewer adapted for use with slides and films, formable to receive 2D or 3-D slides, which can be readily employed for its intended purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the present novel viewer includes three integral panels hinged for pivotal movement of an end lens panel and an end picture panel from flat positions to parallel viewing positions. A releasable flange stop maintains each end panel in parallel position and at right angles to the central panel. A removable novel adapter permits viewing of film strips. The viewer may be formed to accept 2-D or 3-D slides.

Hence, objects of the present invention are to provide a novel film viewer which fulfills the stated longfelt need in the art, which incorporates three integral panels collapsible to flat form for mailing and storage and pivotable into viewing form, which is adapted for long service, which is simple to use effectively, which includes an adapter for film strip viewing, which is adaptable to 2-D and to 3-D forms, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible viewer for 2-D slides adaptable for film, such as film strips, incorporating the teachings of the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an adapter used with the viewer of FIGS. 1-4 to look at film strips or film segments;

FIG. 6 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view on substantially the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the viewer with the film adapter attached;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the viewer with adapter attached and folded into position for viewing;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of the viewer with adapter and film;

FIG. 11 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line l11l of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a collapsible 3-D viewer incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a front view thereof; FIG. 15 is an end view thereof; and

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a two-picture 3-D slide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally a collapsible integral mailable viewer, preferably of suitable plastic, including an end film window panel 22, an end lens supporting panel 24, and a central connecting panel 26. Each of the film window panel 22 and lens supporting panel 24 is connected to the panel 26 by laterally spaced thin integral hinge webs 28. Integral with each panel 22 and 24 between the hinge webs is an elongated stop and positioning rib or flange 30 of the cross section clearly shown in FIG. 11. Each rib 30 includes a step or shelf 32 and shoulder 34 at right angles thereto. An opposed notch 36 is formed in each adjacent side of the connecting panel 26 permitting the ribs 30 to extend therein, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3. In moving the end panels 22 and 24 from the flat positions of FIGS. 1-3 to the operative viewing positions of FIGS. 911, the ribs 30 pivot through the notches 36 in a tight squeeze action and maintain said end panels 22 and 24 at their 90 viewing positions to the connecting panel 26 by engagement of the shoulders 34 against the edges of the notches 36 and the shelves 32 against the rear of the connecting panel 26, as is-clear from the drawings.

The panel 22 includes opposed integral wings 38 on the outer surface adapted to support optionally a standard slide or a film strip adapter 40, a picture window 42 between the Wings 18, and spaced stops 43 below the wings 38 adapted to stop and position slides and an adapter. The panel 24 supports a viewing lens 44.

The adapter 40, which may be of translucent plastic, includes an elongated base or panel 46 of a width receivable by the wings 38 for support thereof (FIGS. 5-1 1 A window 48 is provided for registering with the window 42. Preferably, the window 48 is closed rearwardly of the film position with a membrane of the translucent plastic which aids in diffusing the light to improve viewing. Lower corner notches 49 are provided to engage the stops 43. An integral transversely disposed sleeve 50 rotatably receives a shaft 52 on which are formed integral pinion or cog teeth 54 which successively extend through a slot 58 for operative engagement with the spaced border openings 60 of a film strip 62, an internal annular groove 56 being provided in the sleeve 50 for the remainder of the rotary travel of the teeth 54 (FIGS. 5, 7, 10 and 11). The shaft 52 extends from both ends of the sleeve 50 for rotation through movement of either end. The cog teeth 54 prevent axial movement of the shaft 52. A central longitudinal channel 64 is provided in the rear face of the base 46 for receiving the film strip 62 and confining it against the outer face of the panel 22 as it is viewed or is supported in rest position.

In FIGS. 12-15 is disclosed a 3-D collapsible integral mailable viewer which structurally is essentially the same as the viewer 20, and the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts, portions, and the like. The wings 38 receive 3-D slides 72, each of which has two picture pairs 74 disposed in opposed relation, as indicated by the arrows 76. The slide 72 may include one picture pair 74. Stops 78 above the picture windows 42 position a selected pair of pictures 74 for viewing. No adapter 40 is provided.

It is apparent that there has been provided a novel collapsible three-panel flat mailing slide viewer which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible mailing viewer for film strips which particularly are adapted for mailing in a flat mailing envelope and which may be folded and unfolded between a flat configuration for mailing or storing and a fixed viewing configuration for viewing the film strips and which is of light weight, one-piece construction, the viewer comprising a molded plastic strip, hinge means spaced inwardly from each end of the strip, the portion of the strip between the hinge means defining a central panel, the remaining outer portions of the strip defining a lens panel and a film receiving panel which are foldable about the hinge means relative to the central panel, the hinge means being molded of plastic as part of the strip to define a one-piece molded unit, snap release locking means at each of the hinge means for automatically locking the lens and film receiving panels in fixed, generally opposed parallel positions when folded to said positions, the snap release locking means also being molded of plastic with the plastic strip and hinge means providing a totally one-piece unit for minimal assembly, labor and expense, and means connected to the film receiving panel defining a slot for slideably receiving a film strip having multiple picture frames thereon, the slot being unobstructed at opposite ends to permit movement of the film strip past opposite ends of the film receiving panel, whereby the viewer can be mailed in its flat configuration in a standard flat envelope and quickly and surely releasably locked in its viewing configuration by simply folding the lens and film receiving panels to said viewing configuration to engage the snap release locking means, the viewers light-weight, inexpensive, and flat construction, as well as its ease of use, making it particularly useful in advertising and promotion through the mail.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hinge means includes grooves extending part way through the plastic along the hinge junctions leaving webs forming the hinges.

3. The collapsible mailing viewer of claim 8 wherein each snap release locking means further comprises an angularly disposed flange formed near the edge of one of the adjacent panels at the hinge means, an opening through the strip at the hinge means through which the flange moves upon folding and unfolding the one adjacent panel relative to the other, the opening having an edge which is fixed relative to the other adjacent panel and positioned relative to the flange for engagement of the flange and the edge with the viewer in its viewing configuration so as to resist unfolding, the flange and edge being sufficiently resilient to allow the flange to pass from engagement with one side of the edge, through the opening, and into engagement with the other side of the edge upon forcibly folding or unfolding one adjacent panel relative to the other to and from the viewing configuration.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the flange is formed at approximately ninety degrees relative to the panel with which it is associated.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means defining the slot further comprises a panel member and means securing the panel member to overlie the film receiving panel, the slot being defined by and between the panel member and film receiving panel.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the film receiving panel has an opening therein, and the panel member is translucent and overlies the opening.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 ,800 ,452 DATED April 2 1974 P 1 G. Kiehl INVENTOR(S) au It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 3, line 1: "claim 8" should read -claim l.

Signed and Sealed this twentieth Day of April1976 [SEAL] Attesf.

RUTH. C. MSON C. MARSHALL DA'NN Alleslmg ()fjiver (mnmixsimu'r uflalenrs and Trademarks 

1. A collapsible mailing viewer for film strips which particularly are adapted for mailing in a flat mailing envelope and which may be folded and unfolded between a flat configuration for mailing or storing and a fixed viewing configuration for viewing the film strips and which is of light weight, one-piece construction, the viewer comprising a molded plastic strip, hinge means spaced inwardly from each end of the strip, the portion of the strip between the hinge means defining a central panel, the remaining outer portions of the strip defining a lens panel and a film receiving panel which are foldable about the hinge means relative to the central panel, the hinge means being molded of plastic as part of the strip to define a one-piece molded unit, snap release locking means at each of the hinge means for automatically locking the lens and film receiving panels in fixed, generally opposed parallel positions when folded to said positions, the snap release locking means also being molded of plastic with the plastic strip and hinge means providing a totally one-piece unit for minimal assembly, labor and expense, and means connected to the film receiving panel defining a slot for slideably receiving a film strip having multiple picture frames thereon, the slot being unobstructed at opposite ends to permit movement of the film strip past opposite ends of the film receiving panel, whereby the viewer can be mailed in its flat configuration in a standard flat envelope and quickly and surely releasably locked in its viewing configuration by simply folding the lens and film receiving panels to said viewing configuration to engage the snap release locking means, the viewer''s lightweight, inexpensive, and flat construction, as well as its ease of use, making it particularly useful in advertising and promotion through the mail.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hinge means includes grooves extending part way through the plastic along the hinge junctions leaving webs forming the hinges.
 3. The collapsible mailing viewer of claim 8 wherein each snap release locking means further comprises an angularly disposed flange formed near the edge of one of the adjacent panels at the hinge means, an opening through the strip at the hinge means through which the flange moves upon folding and unfolding the one adjacent panel relative to the other, the opening having an edge which is fixed relative to the other adjacent panel and positioned relative to the flange for engagement of the flange and the edge with the viewer in its viewing configuration so as to resist unfolding, the flange and edge being sufficiently resilient to allow the flange to pass from engagement with one side of the edge, through the opening, and into engagement with the other side of the edge upon forcibly folding or unfolding one adjacent panel relative to the other to and from the viewing configuration.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the flange is formed at approximately ninety degrees relative to the panel with which it is associated.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means defining the slot further comprises a panel member and means securing the panel member to overlie the film receiving panel, the slot being defined by and between the panel member and film receiving panel.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the film receiving panel has an opening therein, and the panel member is translucent and overlies the opening. 